DE4213278C2 - Arrangement for franking mail - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for franking of postal items specified in claims 1 and 12, respectively type. Franking machines are, with at least one Input means, a control module and a printer module equipped. A portable franking machine has storage means and in connection therewith existing receiving means for via a transmission means transferable data. From one to the transfer means, preferably a chip card, loadable Credits are ver by the franking machine needed postage amounts debited.  

The storage means of the franking machine according to the invention schine has updatable sections for at least a table linked to a certain condition, especially for at least one current postage fee rent table, for those linked to at least one condition Information and / or additional information.

It is common to use the new postage rates of a non-volatile memory chip by the Install customer service. In addition to the service effort, this means above all one not through the subsequent replacement in practice effective postage fee table.

From US-PS 36 35 297 is a mail handling device known with automatic charge value calculation. A removable memory (ROM) contains one por to fee table, from when entering the weight of a postal item, if applicable, further shipping information the postage amount is calculated. The disadvantage is that Effort that arises if, due to the In entry into force of a new tariff, the fee values in the table of memory need to be changed. It there is no guarantee that the user of the device will Exchange of memory for updating in time can make.

It was already a removable from US 45 06 330 PCB with DIP switches at the address input of a PROM’s for the selective addressing of a Storage sector known. Postal differences within special service classes can be economical to calculate. Although the memory requirement for the Customer data storage of postal zone tables included significantly reduced, however, the DIP switches can be set manually.

When a new tariff comes into force, Update of those saved in franking machines Postage fee table already provides a remote value specification been hit (DE 28 03 982 A1). From a centra The new tariff is operated remotely at the data station transfer several franking machines simultaneously. However, an update with the new tariff sets advance that the franking machines at these times switched on and are constantly accessible.  

In contrast, the one known from US 41 38 735 Franking machine has a rate PROM that is radio or Telephone with a current postage fee table can be equipped. The opportunity for one non-simultaneous transfer of postage fees table results from a single addressing every franking machine. Since the head office via Fran the machine address will reach the franking machine can and then controls the transmission, can also short-term fee changes can be made effective.

However, it is difficult to ensure that the Establishing a connection on the part of the head office has been successful. Another disadvantage is that they cannot be avoided can that the memory of the franking machine with many data not required are filled.  

It is security against fraudulent manipulation already known from DE 38 23 719 A1 representative character pattern from a certain date to print out. When checking the post is in the post office compare the date of printing and the sign with the pattern that is authorized for this date. For printing serves an authorization device that has a memory device for storing a number of character pattern and has date data. The data that represent that assignative character patterns to a defined date, are determined by means of an external value Voting device updated when the user the franking machines for a credit search. However, this security system is fixed limited networks and for portable franking machines, who are carried from one place to another den (mobile office) not applicable.

If no credit is reloaded, could an update will be missed.

From US 48 02 218 is a working with chip cards automatic transmission system known. A transfer supply device has at least one read / write unit for the user card. Additional read / write units for the user card, postage fee card as well additional special cards not only make the device complex and expensive, but also pose a bottleneck for data transmission and data processing, if, for example, in the postage fee card after the Postage fee must be sought. Finally, the Device users themselves ensure that the current valid postage fee card used or not with an old postage fee worked, d. H. manipulated becomes.

The effort for calculating the postage is below also from the place of dispatch and receipt location (addressee) dependent and in some countries very complicated. Besides, the are different Postal services to take into account. In EP 99 666 B1 has therefore already become a limitation device the calculation of postage fee values on preselected Postal services proposed. If the user has one other uses, the choice of desired tables by exchanging an address book storage between data center and user met. This means that postage fee tables can also be different sizes can be exchanged without the Program adjusted with regard to new jump addresses should be. The user will only be in the form of PROMs sent the data that he no longer up to against ellen has to exchange. When changing franking machine that works with such a system either waiting times inevitable or it should be full set of PROMs or data including the unneeded data are made available. In the latter case would have to be a multiple of storage space in the franking machine.

It is also known from EP 373 971 A2 especially for the purpose of a new postage in the Load user station from a user station data to the data center to transfer this data there check and update. The disadvantage of this solution lies in the effort that is already in the data center would have to be operated for stationary systems, whereby long waiting times for the individual user stations are inevitable. The disadvantage is compared to mobile User stations further enlarged. It cannot ver be prevented that those with a sufficient User station not supplied with credit for the data headquarters reports.

So far it has not been possible to use the portable, i.e. H. that were not permanently installed over a telephone network Franking machines to update and defraud to secure gerien manipulations.

The invention has for its object in a Arrangement for franking mail, preferably a portable franking device that can be operated from anywhere machine of the type mentioned at the beginning Franking according to valid postal tariffs depending of the weight and format of the mail item that can be entered guarantee.

The task is carried out with the characteristics of Claim 1 and 12 solved.

The invention assumes that the timely Transfer of the new tariff to everyone, especially to the portable not switched on in the meantime  or not operational franking machines ensure caching in an over means of transport and an automatic takeover of the current tariff through the franking machines during requires switching on.

The invention is further based on the consideration with the intention of changing the tariff of the postage The early establishment of postage fees to plan tables so that they are well before their in will be made available to all postal customers. It depends on the majority of the participants right timely instead of at the same time as before with a current len postage fee table.

Also in time with the commissioning or Switch on the franking machine a table with Zu Record functions for security or for checking Mistakes and fraudulent manipulations and to er Increased ease of use.

Advantageous developments of the invention are in the Sub-claims marked or are below along with the description of the preferred embodiment tion of the invention with reference to the figures Darge poses. Show it:

Fig. 1 block diagram of the postage meter machine according to the invention,

Fig. 2 postage fee table storage areas,

Fig. 3a, b, c additional function table memory areas,

Fig. 4 Communications GSM variant,

Fig. 5 information field.

A current and, in addition, a chip card 10 , which has an additional postage fee table applicable to the future tariff and is already known for the value specification of fee values, is used as the transmission means. In Fig. 1 a block diagram of the postage meter 1 according to the invention with a chip card read-write unit 2 is shown. A storage means 3 is connected to a display means 4 and, via a BUS 11, to a control module 5 , and to an input / output means 6 , to which a printer module 7 , an input means 8 and the chip card disk reading unit 2 are connected . Furthermore, a connection of a weighing module 14 via the BUS 11 directly or via the input / output means 6 is provided (not shown in more detail in FIG. 1).

In addition, the presence of a programmable battery-supported clock module 9 in each franking machine is assumed, the accuracy and programming of which is designed to generate the correct date data in order to store the storage means 3 of the franking machine with the current and future specific date data for the entry into force associated postage fee tables load. The programming relates in particular to the time to be taken into account locally, the time zones of the earth that are essentially dependent on the degree of longitude, and the date limit to be taken into account.

This is advantageous for a stationary franking arrangement, as well as in particular for a portable franking machine that can be transported from place to place, that the franking arrangement contains a programmable clock module 9 which, based on a defined actual or future location, contains the respective local time or franking time including date lie fert. For a given accuracy, which can only be checked after a very large time interval, a one-time factory setting of the clock is sufficient if the local time can be set by entering the location. For this purpose, a memory area is provided for the clock module, which contains the relevant locations with the associated local time shift for setting the clock. The local time shift is added to Greenwich Mean Time.

The franking machine 1 has means in the control module 5 which, when the franking machine 1 is started up, has at least one postage fee table for the franking machine. Load 1 from the chip card 10 via the receiving means 2 and 6 into a predetermined memory space of the storage means 3 and contains further means in the control module 5 , via the means 3 , 4 , 8 , 9 and 11 on the basis of the entered country or place of dispatch and the date, select the current postage fee table that is currently in force, on the basis of which the respective postage fee is determined. These means are manufactured in hardware and / or software as a fixed or freely programmable logic module or program of a microprocessor control.

The chip card 10 is intended for use as a debit card with a national or international validity, but this should in no way preclude other accounting methods for monetary data. It is preferably implemented in the European Community. A service center for the national postal authorities, for example, pays and bills the fees.

Advantageously, further functions are stored in the chip card 10 so that they can be called up by the current date supplied by the clock module 9 . The information for the further functions to be loaded into the franking machine is linked to a condition (date, time, location).

In particular, the security against fraudulent manipulations can be increased by the fact that during the update a number of functions assigned to the update date can be loaded into the franking machine 1 and the further triggerable functions to be loaded are specified in a variety of ways and cannot be selected. To protect against fraudulent manipulation, the national postal authority to which the respective place of dispatch belongs can provide a printout that can only be machine-read by the respective national postal authority. This printout can be, for example, the transaction number for an authorization check in the form of a barcode or another agreed symbol which is printed on the mail item at a defined position using the same or a further printer.

In addition, the input means 8 can be used for the sending location, location of the mailbox or the responsible post office and / or the respective postal authority, among other things, in order to make a further selection from among the functions loaded into the franking machine.

In FIG. 2, a storage area is shown with a an update associated memory section for the current and for future Portogebührenta beauty. Depending on the storage area assigned to a sending country, at least one postage fee table is available. This enables the correct setting of the fees for each machine through the information stored in the transmission medium.

Each postage fee table applicable to a national postal authority is divided into zones for sending mail well from the place of dispatch, ie the post office to which the mailbox to be franked with postage is assigned to the place of receipt. The zones assigned to the distances and / or domestic or foreign countries or the distance from the sending location to the receiving location can be determined as an additional function in a further memory area A, B, C, not shown. . . be stored for each country and the corresponding zone of the current table is addressed by the control means. Once the correct zone has been determined, the postal customer can choose from among the services of the type of delivery (letter, reply postcard, printed matter, letterhead, parcel ...) agreed by the franking machine manufacturer with the respective national post offices, the type of delivery (value, registered mail, personal delivery, return receipt , Cash on delivery, express delivery, airmail, fast delivery, post-warehousing, ...), and additional services (advance instructions) or similar imprints (cliché, advertising ...) are made. After entering a weight amount and the type of shipment and the form of dispatch of the mail, the postage fee corresponding to the zones can be taken out automatically. In future storage postage fee tables for further, preferably for each of the national postal authorities, not shown in FIG. 2, future postage fee tables which are valid from the current further update date are stored. For each of the tables, the control means must compare the date to be entered of the date stamp appearing on the postal item with the update date for the entry into force of the table.

In the Fig. 3a, b, c, are stored in the further memory areas each having a dispatch country A, B and place of birth and / or a date associated additional function tables shown. By entering the sending country A, B for each area, a first selection of the functions to be loaded into the franking machine is made manually or automatically and is loaded into its storage means when the franking machine is started up. The additional functions F1 (payment for express delivery from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), F2 (payment for express delivery from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.), F3 (payment for express delivery), Fn (...) And others are for an agreed time of day or from national postal authority certain limited period of time is valid ( Fig. 3a).

FIG. 3b relates to a table for a number of the postage meter to be transmitted and then freely selectable additional functions. As a rule, mail is picked up when a franking machine is in stationary operation. The attachment of an in-house stationary mailbox can also be arranged with the post office. For the mobile use of a franking machine, further services of the postal authorities (assignment of postcode and numbers of post offices to place names) are required. The data for mailboxes that are permanently open as receiving points for mail in public places, ports, airports, train stations, traffic stations, etc., are listed in another, not shown, updatable directory, are suitable for calling up stored information or providing functions, after manually entering this data for open acceptance points and the date in a field. A further memory area is provided for this. If a number of functions cannot be selected due to the location, another sending location that enables these functions can be determined.

Between the customer and the manufacturer, ver be agreed, certain additional information to others Place to print on the postal matter, especially kalen Darian information and temporary advertising messages.  

For example, an organizer for a Advertise fair. This information to be printed automatically appear in the printed image according to the previous programming. Here too, a white tere storage area may be provided.

FIG. 3c relates to a table for the ner due ei condition on the postage meter to be transmitted agreed fixed additional functions. The additional functions which bring about additional identification serve, for example, to ensure the detection of a predating date in future mail, that is to say post which has previously been franked. Such functions are agreed between the franking machine manufacturer and the postal authority and are defined by the time of delivery of the post at the place of dispatch.

By entering a field (field name) for the place of dispatch, place of the mailbox, in particular the postcode (zip code) or for the number of the post office responsible, a further selection is automatically made from the functions to be loaded into the franking machine and when the franking machine is started up loaded into its storage means ( Fig. 3b) or ( Fig. 3c).

In another - shown in FIG. 4 - variant of the solution according to the invention, cellular communication networks, in particular Groupe Speciale Mobile networks (GSM networks) are used as transmission means. Such GSM networks have a radio switching system (SSS) with transitions on the one hand to other radio or fixed networks (NETZ), in particular (PSTN, ISDN, PDN), and on the other hand to the mobile subscribers (FM) via a radio base station system ( BSS). In the BSS, a transcoder unit (TCE) is connected to several BSS control devices (BCE) to which the respective transmitting / receiving stations (BTS) are connected. Operating and maintenance centers of the radio switching system (OMC / SSS) or such operating and maintenance centers (OMC / BSS) of the base station radio system (BSS) or the associated control device (BCE) are equipped with a storage means 300 , 301 or 302 , which has memory sections for the retrievable published postage fee and non-secret additional function tables and for further service and additional information.

The entry of the sending country or place and the Lan Des- or local time can be for portable franking machines if mobile radio (D network) is used, preferably auto done matically.

An information field - shown in FIG. 5 - for the date, place of dispatch, weight, format, postage fee and other usual information as well as for the additional functions permitted by the respective national postal authority can be shown in the display means 4 or 400 of the respective franking machine 1 or 100 are shown to make a selection of the functions. Not shown are the information that can only be called up by means of a password, such as device number, transaction number, piece count, registration amount, postage and billing list.

Claims (22)

1. Arrangement for franking mail with a franking machine, which has first means for loading at least one table from a chip card into a predetermined memory of the franking machine, the first means correspondingly at least two in when the franking machine ( 1 ) is switched on Postage meter machine entered conditions, namely sender country and date or field name and sender country or field name and date, the table data or information that is stored in tables in the chip card ( 10 ) and which can also be called up linked to these conditions, in the predetermined memory of the franking machine ( 1 ) load. 2. Arrangement for franking mail, according to claim 1, characterized in that the franking machine ( 1 ) has second means in the control module ( 5 ), the current table in force and / or information necessary for the function of the franking machine ( 1 ) are available, select on the basis of the further conditions (time, password and / or other identifiers), the further conditions being specified via third means and that the third means storage and input means ( 3 and 8 ) and a clock module ( 9 ) include. 3. Arrangement for franking mail, according to claims 1 to 2, characterized in that in the memory of the chip card ( 10 ) there is at least one postage fee table available stored, that the franking machine ( 1 ) in the control module ( 5 ) has first means , which load at least one postage fee table for the franking machine from the memory of the chip card ( 10 ) via the receiving means ( 2 , 6 ) into a predetermined memory space of the storage means ( 3 ) when the franking machine ( 1 ) is switched on and that the franking machine has second means in the control module ( 5 ), which uses the third means ( 3 , 4 , 8 , 9 , 11 ) to select the currently applicable postage fee table based on the entered country or place of dispatch and the date, on the basis of which the respective postage fee is determined. 4. Arrangement, according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the chip card ( 10 ) in its SpeI chermittel ( 12 ) has at least one callable area (A) for each defined update date data for the entry into force of the respectively assigned postage fee table and that each area (A, B,...) is designed for at least one postage fee table. 5. Arrangement, according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the storage means ( 12 ) of the transmission means is equipped with storage sections for the retrievable postage and additional function tables and for additional information which can be loaded into the franking arrangement via the receiving means ( 2 ) are and that the sending country or sending location and the country or local time is entered with the device switched on via the input means ( 8 ). 6. Arrangement, according to claim 2, characterized in that the means ( 9 ) is a battery-assisted clock module for supplying the franking machine ( 1 ) via a bus ( 11 ) with time and date data. 7. Arrangement, according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that for the third means input means ( 8 ) for weight input and input of the type of shipment and the form of shipment are provided for each zone of the franking arrangement loadable in the franking arrangement. 8. Arrangement, according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that such additional functions are stored in the transmission means ( 10 ), which are stored for a limited period of time and / or for a specific country or a specific location from a predetermined one Date are valid and can be loaded into the franking arrangement, a part being freely selectable by the input means ( 8 ) from the loaded number of additional functions, while another non-manipulable part is provided for security purposes. 9. Arrangement, according to claim 6, characterized in that the franking arrangement contains a programmable clock module ( 9 ) which delivers the respective local time based on a defined actual or future location. 10. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the franking arrangement a portable franking machine. 11. The arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the third means a scale, preferably as an integrated in the franking machine weighing module ( 14 ) is assigned. 12. Arrangement for franking mail with a franking machine having first means to load at least one table from a memory ( 300 ) of a cellular communication network (GSM) via receiving means into a predetermined memory of the franking machine, the first means for When the franking machine ( 1 ) is switched on in accordance with at least two conditions entered in the franking machine, namely the country of dispatch and date or field name and country of dispatch or field name and date, the table data or information stored in tables in the memory ( 300 ) of the cellular communication network (GSM) stored and loaded, which are linked to these conditions, load into the predetermined memory of the franking machine ( 1 ). 13. Arrangement for franking mail, according to claim 12, characterized in that the franking machine ( 1 ) has second means in the control module ( 5 ), the current table in force and / or information necessary for the function of the franking machine ( 1 ) are available, select on the basis of the further conditions (time, password and / or other identifiers), the further conditions being specified via third means and that the third means storage and input means ( 3 and 8 ) and a clock module ( 9 ) include. 14. Arrangement for franking mail, according to claims 12 to 13, characterized in that there is at least one postage fee table stored in the memory of the cellular communication network (GSM) that the franking machine ( 1 ) in the control module ( 5 ) has first means , which load at least one postage fee table for the franking machine from the memory of the cellular communication network (GSM) via the receiving means ( 2 , 6 ) into a predetermined memory space of the storage means ( 3 ) when the franking machine ( 1 ) is switched on and that the franking machine has second means in the Control module ( 5 ), which uses the third means ( 3 , 4 , 8 , 9 , 11 ) to select the current postage fee table based on the entered country or place of dispatch and the date, on the basis of which the respective postage fee is determined. 15. Arrangement according to claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the storage means ( 300 ) of the cellular communication network are equipped with storage sections and that the input of the sending country or sending location and the country or local time associated information via receiving means ( 200 ) activated mobile radio takes place automatically in the memory space of the franking arrangement. 16. Arrangement, according to claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the storage means ( 300 ) of the transmission means with memory sections for the retrievable postage and additional function tables and for additional information is equipped, which can be loaded into the franking arrangement via the receiving means ( 200 ) and that the sending country or sending place and the country or local time are entered with the device switched on via the input means ( 8 ). 17. The arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the means ( 9 ) is a battery-assisted clock module for supplying the franking machine ( 1 ) via a bus ( 11 ) with time and date data. 18. Arrangement, according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the third means Input means for one Weight entry and entry of the type of shipment and the Form of dispatch for each zone in the franking arrangement loadable postage fee table are provided. 19. Arrangement, according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 18, characterized in that such additional functions are stored in the transmission means ( 10 ), which are stored for a limited period of time and / or for a specific country or a specific location from a predetermined one Date are valid and can be loaded into the franking arrangement, a part being freely selectable by the input means ( 8 ) from the loaded number of additional functions, while another non-manipulable part is provided for security purposes. 20. The arrangement according to claim 17, characterized in that the franking arrangement contains a programmable clock module ( 9 ) which delivers the respective local time based on a defined actual or future location. 21. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the franking arrangement a portable franking machine.   22. The arrangement according to claim 18, characterized in that the third means, a scale, preferably an integrated in the franking machine weighing module ( 14 ) is assigned.